Tuesday, 10 May 2022 08:25

Another challenging season

Written by  Peter Burke
Paul Paynter says it has been a very challenging season, due to a combination of factors - including weather, Covid and labour shortages. Paul Paynter says it has been a very challenging season, due to a combination of factors - including weather, Covid and labour shortages.

Paul Paynter - director of the family-owned Yummy Fruit Company, based in Hawke's Bay - has described the past season as the toughest year in his 30 years in the apple industry. He tells Peter Burke why...

Paul Paynter says it's been another very challenging season, due to a combination of factors, including weather, Covid and labour shortages yet again.

In terms of labour, two years ago Paynter had 130 backpackers working for him - last year it was just 18 and this year none!

He says adding to the worker issues is the fact that Covid has been bubbling away in the community and it has taken a lot of people out of the workforce. On top of that, wet weather has played havoc with picking fruit.

Paynter told Hort News in the first quarter of this year they've had a record 440mm of rain - 50mm higher than the previous record.

"As a result, it's become a quagmire in the orchards and I have got a guy working full time just trying to repair tracks to keep things functional out there," he explains. "But I think we are going to get most of the crop picked."

The other issue that plays constantly on Paynter's mind is shipping and getting product to market. He says shipping is unreliable and boats seem to come and then seemingly evaporate as if they were in the Bermuda Triangle.

Somewhat fortuitously, this hasn't been a problem for him just yet. Paynter says in February last year they shipped $1.4 million worth of fruit; this year it's been a mere $66,000. He says this is because the packhouses are only operating at about 60% capacity due to labour shortages. However, he believes this situation will improve in a few weeks' time when picking ends and people are deployed in the packhouses.

"My expectation is that the season will continue to be volatile and traumatic," Paynter says.

"It's been very tough on people after a couple of years of Covid and everyone's emotional shock absorbers are worn, just like many other New Zealanders. They aren't having fun anymore and they are worn out trying to do their job with too few resources and in very challenging times."

Paynter says people will struggle on in the hope there is light at the end of the tunnel and before long the world will return to some sense of normality.

More like this

Healing the damage

The Yummy Fruit Company's John Paynter heard the news of the impending cyclone.

Call for RSE action!

New Zealand Apples and Pears wants the new government to urgently deal with the Recognised Seasonal Employment (RSE) scheme.

Too 'Little', too late - HortNZ

Horticulture NZ is scathing about the last gasp announcement by Labour to lift the Recognised Seasonal Employer (RSE) by just 500 workers.

Getting it right crucial!

A leading Hawke’s Bay orchardist says getting the recovery of the apple industry right in Hawke’s Bay is critical to the whole economy of the region.

Featured

Sheep drench resistance costly

Analysis by Dunedin-based Techion New Zealand shows the cost of undetected drench resistance in sheep has exploded to an estimated $98 million a year.

Dairy sheep and goat turmoil

Dairy sheep and goat farmers are being told to reduce milk supply as processors face a slump in global demand for their products.

Hurry up and slow down!

OPINION: We have good friends from way back who had lived in one of our major cities for many years.

National

Bumper cherry exports in 2024

New Zealand cherry producer Southern Fruits International expects to send up to 340 tonnes of luxury cherries to the global…

Machinery & Products

Pollution into fertiliser

While the new government is sure to “tinker” with the previous administration’s emissions policy, a recent visit to New Zealand…

Smart money backs smart machine

Marlborough-based start-up SmartMachine claims its new machine is one of the most significant operational step changes for viticulture since the…

Robo packer hits a billion

New Zealand inventor and manufacturer Robotics Plus Limited’s fruit packing robot has hit a major milestone of one billion pieces…

Crop care business expands

Five years ago, agricultural machinery specialist Lemken acquired the Dutch company Steketee B.V and expanded its crop care product portfolio…

» Latest Print Issues Online

The Hound

Why?

OPINION: A mate of yours truly wants to know why the beef schedule differential is now more than 45-50 cents…

Fat to cut

OPINION: Your canine crusader understands that MPI were recently in front of the Parliamentary Primary Sector Select Committee for an…

» eNewsletter

Subscribe to our weekly newsletter